MK3 with KK S61...is it for me?

Hey Guys, So I am new to midi, drum machines and maschine. I went all in about a weeks with the Maschine MK3, Komplete 12, and Komplete Kontrol S61.
I still have time to return the MK3 so I am trying to see if it is really for me. My first few questions are how am I supposed to be working with the MK# and S61 together? I tried it today and I am not sure if everything should be done in Maschine 2 or if I need Komplete Kontrol open as well? As it is right now the S61 just triggers the MK3 as well.
It is also just the litte things that seems like everything needs a work around. I can't control pro tools transport functions even native insturments own productins don't play well with Maschine. For example, Battery 4 kits in maschine 2 don't load the kit onto the pads... there is other stuff too I have ran into that I can't think of now.
I am also not primarily a beat maker. I come from a rock background and have been paying guitar for 18 years. I really just wanted it to make drum patterns easier, add some keyboard/synth parts, strings, etc. I would never just use the Maschine 2 DAW like a DJ would and want it to work with Pro tools. I love the screens and the midi editing in Maschine 2 but I just can't figure out how to make it practical with pro tools and work in my workflow. If anyone does this please let me now.
Maybe I need a different DAW like Cubase? Problem is if i send files to band mates who have Pro tools and also it is pretty expensive. Or Maybe Cubase plus the S61 with the Komplete 12 and just a midi drum machine would be better?
Idk just looking for some direction...maybe I just need to use it more...Thanks!

 

welcome on board Jake. i quoted that sentence because i had similar feelings to you when i bought my mk3. i defenitely recommend to keep it - AND - use it a lot to get used to the workflow. once you now how to do what you want on it its a fantastic workflow.

i've got no time to answer all your questions but for everything you've written (using in protools / using battery kits / etc.) there are solutions. either on youtube, in the manuel or on this forum. i think moderator D-One posted a lot of good stuff on this forum and lots of "how to's".

just give your new "baby" some time to "get home". she'll behave, i promise

 

If you were even going to consider switching DAWs at this point, I'd only recommend Reaper; $60 for a personal license, and the 60 day free trial is fully featured and continues working after that, but it's the honor system. :- ) If you know PT/PTHD, it'll come naturally, and you can even use the same keymaps too so you can get started instantly.

This site was pretty helpful when making the jump from PTHD: https://www.protoolstoreaper.com/

I'm liking Maschine, KK and Reaper.

 

If I understand you correctly, you want to use the MK3 primarily for drumming.
In that case I would exchange the MK3 for a midi controller with 16 pads. Which I leave to your choice.
Regarding the loading of battery kits, these are loaded on C1.
This means that you have to set the first path to C1. How? see manual.

René

 

I think you miss interpreting a few things... I'll answer your questions individually, so you have proper info to make a choice:

You can... You just need to configure it.
Read here, post #157 https://www.native-instruments.com/...-kontrol-imaschine.356733/page-8#post-1811399
I installed a demo of PT to help that friendly guy out, the demo since ran out so I cant provide any further help with anything related to PT but this sort of thing is very similar for all daws. If you know your DAW decently and learn MIDI basics you should be able to do it.

The S-Series keyboards can control Maschine or Komplete Kontrol (both Plugin and Standalone versions), this what their best at doing and what they're designed for. They can also act as a Generic MIDI keyboard if you so desire but this should be considered a secondary function.

You can switch which instance of the Plugin (maschine/kk) the HW controls from the hardware itself, I am not 100% sure switching thru the Instance button works in Pro-Tools but I think so, if it doesn't you would need to change what the hw is focused on thru the software... A PT user would need to confirm this. (there aren't many active forum users using PT tho)

That true for the most part, particularly if you expect Maschine to behave like a DAW or just be plug-a-and play for everything, in a lot of ways it's pretty much a standalone drum-machine from 90's workflow-wise with the addition of VST and whatnot, a very strict workflow that requires you adapting to it, it will never adapt to you... sort of like an instrument.

First, understand this: Baterry is an Instrument, it was designed for DAW's, not Maschine. Maschine has its own integrated Sampler where everything is indeed plug-and-play. Battery has nice features but using it in Maschine means loading a Drum instrument into a Drum-Machine and therefore is very redundant.

For Battery to work on the Pads you need to use Keyboard mode, (Keyboard Mode is designed for Instruments), but you can also use Pad Mode if you want but it will require loading Baterry on Pad and configuring all other Pads to send MIDI to that Pad/Sound where battery is loaded each sending a different note, this is annoying but you can save the Group as a preset so you dont have to configure it every time. I dont think this is a very practical approach but some people do it.

You could also have Battery loaded into KK/DAW and use Maschine in MIDI mode play it, but again, not very practical IMO but you have many ways to go about it.

Thats actually what Maschine is great at doing, easily put together drums, samples and instruments, it only falls apart if you want 'real' Audio tracks, a linear DAW workflow or more advanced arrangement freedom. That's the thing... Maschine is not a DAW, I think you're interpreting a Drum-Machine workflow with a "DJ workflow"...

Everyone has their favorite DAW, it's not my place to tell you if Pro-Tools is adequate or if you're better off with another DAW more focused in Music Production rather than top-notch recording/mixing features as PT is. If you do go for another DAW I would recommend staying in the 3 "NI supported" ones, Live, Logic or Cubase.

 

Hey guys thanks for all the replies! I've been using it more but still I feel like I'm not fully "getting" it or dont need it. I purchased cubase 10.5 pro with the crossgrade from protools option and am liking it WAY better than pro tools. I've been able to get maschine mk3 working somewhat in cubase with the help of d one and jef gibons. However since I dont really make "beats" I'm not seeing what makes the mk3 useful over the KK s61 besides drumming. And when it comes to drumming I've been mostly using patterns or changing them up on my own because I cant use the pads very well yet.

If I want to play any other instrument I just dont see why I would use the pads and not the keyboard. I understand the maschine integration for people but dont think that part works with my workflow.

If I return the mk3 will I still have access to maschine 2 with s61 if needed or for any of the maschine library?

Maybe I need to just get a maschine mikro for the pads or another pad controller?

I'm weary about returning it because I feel like I'm "missing " something and need it to click but I also feel like maybe I might be forcing it into my workflow when I dont need it.

 

Please note that I can only comment on my own personal environment, workflow and setup. And in a sense I suppose I've always done most things "differently" throughout all of my synth endeavours.

So why... to break away from the confinement that is the keyboard. In other words: to play an instrument in a completely different way than you're used to because that can help you to think 'outside the box' in using and experimenting with different approaches.

I've played with a keyboard for well over 8 years now (started messing around with my synth passion during 2009's Holiday Season) and I can tell you: when I picked up on my Push controller (think of it as a Maschine Mk3 but instead of 16 pads it has 64) a completely new world opened up for me. A different way of playing, but also different sounds placed at different locations.. and aftertouch which my keyboard didn't have (but that only plays a minor role). So here's the fun part... despite having 64pads at my disposal for playing instruments I still more than often turn to the Maschine's instrument note to play with just 16. Not necessarily because of any specific Maschine features (though the randomize option for played notes is seriously useful) but because the Maschine was in its own turn completely different than my Push controller. And the 16 pads, once again, force me to rethink about my work on Push.

In my opinion pads can seriously bring out the best in you where creativity and such are concerned. If you let it...